Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes and Random Acts of Kindness

Over the weekend I was shopping at my favorite grocery store, Trader Joe's .  As I was checking out,  I was chatting with the cashier about out wonderful weather.  Everyone in Chicago Land is buzzing about our weather lately.  I casually mentioned that my birthday was this week.  She stopped what she was doing, and said,  "Just a minute.  I'll be back". She came back with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers, handing them to me and saying "Happy Birthday!"  I was speechless. I have never  received flowers from anyone in the grocery store, before, and I didn't know this cashier.  I know several people working there, but not this particular woman. Random Act of Kindness, that is what this was.  I have since learned that Trader Joe employees are encouraged to perform Random Acts of Kindness. Trader Joe's, you now have a fan for life. You know, if you receive a "Random Act of Kindness," you pay it forward.

To pay it forward, I made Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes for the TJ crew, and took them to the store yesterday, on my birthday. The crew loved them.  Maybe that wasn't such a "random" act of kindness, but I sure felt good doing it.  Because yesterday was the First Day of Spring, and our temps have been in the 80's, I wanted to make a Springy cupcake.  The strawberries have been delicious, and I always think of lemons for Springtime, a bright sunny flavor. Therefore, I made Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes, and I found cute Spring themed cupcake liners, too.  The cupcakes taste like a bite of Spring with the sweet strawberries and brightness of the lemon. They are amazing. So make yourself a jar or glass of Strawberry Lemonade, have a Strawberry Lemonade Cupcake, and enjoy a taste of Spring!

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes

 Adapted from Half Baked, The Cake Blog and Crave.  Indulge. Satisfy
{makes 24 cupcakes )

For the cake:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbsp lemonade powder mix  ( I used Crystal Light)
1 cup milk
3 Tbsp lemon juice (juice of 1 lemon)
1 Tbsp lemon zest (zest of 1 lemon)
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pans with cupcake liners

1. In medium bowl mix together dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, salt, lemonade powder and lemon zest, set aside.
2. In bowl of stand mixer cream butter and sugar on medium speed until combined.
3. Add eggs, one at a time beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
4. Add the lemon juice and vanilla and mix well.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients and milk, alternating starting and ending with the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
6. Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full.
7. Bake for 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
8. Let cupcakes cool in pans for 5 minutes, then remove to wire rack to finish cooling.
9. Once cupcakes are completely cool, ice with Strawberry Lemon Frosting and garnish with strawberry slice. (optional)

For the frosting:

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temperature
4 cups confectioner’s sugar
3 Tbsp strawberry puree (from about 3-4 strawberries)
1 tbsp lemon zest

1. In bowl of stand mixer cream butter for 1-2 minutes.
2. Gradually add confectioner’s sugar and continue mixing scraping down sides of bowl as needed.
3. Mix in strawberry puree and lemon zest.

Place the icing in a piping bag fitted with tip 1M to decorate cupcakes

I linked up my Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes to Brandie's Weekend Potluck #10 @ The Country Cook'
Stop by and say Hi to Brandie!
 




This was not a not a sponsored post, and the opinions expressed here are mine.